Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

Pediatric RN Intern Program

Le Bonheur Children's Hospital is proud of the 29-year-old tradition of our Pediatric RN Intern Program, having graduated over 1,000 pediatric nurses to-date.

Our program is designed to help the new graduate nurse apply nursing theory, develop advanced nursing skills and perform competently in a pediatric setting. The transition from student to professional nurse is supported through clinical experiences with one-on-one preceptorships in the area you work, in didactic programs and in "looping" for:

  • 16 weeks for medical/surgical RN Interns OR
  • 20 weeks for critical care RN Interns

Applicants for the program interview with the area of the hospital for which they will work and are offered a position through our recruitment office. Candidates for the program are:

  • Recent graduates of a clinically based, accredited school of nursing/college program with less than six (6) months of experience as a GN/RN
  • Eligible to sit for NCLEX by meeting Tennessee licensure requirements

Graduate Nurses (GN) are accepted into the program upon completion of an accredited nursing program and become Pediatric RN Interns. Within a month of the beginning of the program, the GN should be prepared to sit for NCLEX. After successful completion of boards, the RN will continue as a pediatric RN intern working closely with a clinical educator specific for the area of hire, complete a medication administration exam also specific to pediatrics, and successfully orient to the area of nursing he/she is hired into.

Pediatric RN Interns:

  • Receive RN's salary and benefits while in the program
  • Are reimbursed for HURST classes
  • Work on the floor/unit to which he/she is hired with one-on-one preceptorship
  • Are eligible for loan payback once NCLEX is successfully completed

For more information please contact: Patricia Tripp, Nursing Recruiter, 901.287.5080


Posted: November 28, 2007